Improvement in rat and mouse-traps



UNITED STATES aTENT OEEIoE.

LEVI F. GEORGE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB OF TWO-THIRDS OF HIS RIGHT TO ALGERNON S. AUSTIN, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAT AND MOUSE-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,598, dated October 3, 1871.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI F. GEORGE, of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain Improvements in Rat and Mouse-Traps, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to the combination, in a rat and mouse-trap, of a turn-table fixed on one side of' a hollow box, and a clock-spring in connection with certain hooks on the upright piece on the turn-table, which closes the box in certain positions, and fixed springs within the box in suoli manner that the said hooks shall play alternately upon the said fixed springs so as to cause the turn-table to revolve on its axis by means ofthe clock-spring, and at the same time stop it when it has performed a half revolution, thereby closing and opening the hollow box or trap, as required.

Figure l is a front elevation of the improved rat and mouse-trap. Fig. 2 is the back or end elevation of' the same. Fig. 3 is the plan of the same with one-half of th e cover taken away, showing part of the turn-table, compartments, and gates, with the fixed springs and hooks. Fig. 4 is the side elevation of one of the hooks. Fig. 5 is the front elevation of the same, (Fig. 4.) Fig. 6 is the plan of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is-the plan of the trap securing the clock-spring and pivot. Fig. 8 is the front view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is the clockspring plan for revolving the turn-table. Fig. 10 is a side view of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a view of the pivot on which the turn -table works; Fig. l2, plan of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a plan of one of the fixed springs. Fig. 14 is a side view (or top view as fixed in the trap) of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is the bent piece of wire for pressing back one of the fixed springs, (side View.) Fig. 16 is the plan of Fig. l5. Fig. 17 is the plan of the turntable with pivot and hooks fitted in their places. Fig. 18 is a front elevation of the turn-table of which Fig. 17 is the plan.

A is the horizontal turn-table, of circular form, with vertical upright B in the center, all foi-min g one piece. X is the pivot xed to and running through A B, with and on which the turntable revolves. O is the clock-spring, tted to the pivot X, and secured by the screw S to the lid ofthe box, and kept in position by the brace L, also kept on this lid. H and H' are the hooks attached to the turn-table through the upright por tion B, one, H, being within and the other, H',

without the box. H' is made like an ordinary hook near the bottom part m', but when near the top of B branches off horizontally to the right for some little distance and enters a hole prepared for it through B near the side of the box, and immediately on entering the box runs up vertically near to the lid and just rests h' against the fixed spring' K' within. The hook H is similar to H' only on the inside of B in position. R R

B is a hollow oblong box, having one end open for the turn-table A B to close, and the bottom beneath the turn-table is prolonged into a semicircular shape, extending somewhat further than the circle of A B. On this circular projection a wire grating, W, is fitted, extending halfway round, the wires of which fit into the lid of the box at the top, thus inclosing the space the hook H' or H may occupy. A partition is placed within, at a convenient distance, so as to form two compartments, T and T'. A gate, G, opens from T into T', and prevents return by not allowing a passage from T' to T without lifting the same, and at the further end of' the box another gate, O, is fitted, which is under the control of the wire g. The fixed springs K and K' are fiat pieces of steel, fastened to the sides of the box within, at the top near the lid, so that the ends l1. and It' of H and H' impinge on K' alternately. The wire piece Z is bent into shape, (see Fig. 15 and 16,) and capable of moving on the lid of the box within the wire fastenings r i', and having one end turned upward so as to form a handle, and the other entering into the box through a hole prepared for it, and touching the spring K.

Vhen a rat or mouse pulls the bait attached to the bottom part of the hook H' toward itself from right to left (Fig. l) it causes the top end h' to press back the fixed spring K' and release the turn-table, which revolves, carrying the rat or mouse on it into the compartment T, and, on making one-half revolution, so that what was in front of the piece B is now the back, it presses in the springKand its further progress is checked by the spring K', (having assumed through the said revolution its former position,) the end of K' acting as a stop. The hook H is now in the position of H', and the same action takes place on pulling the bait at m' each time a rat or mouse is being carried into the said compartment.

The hooks H and H' playin little wire catches p and p', (see Figs. 1, 3, and 17,) so as to keep them in the same plane as the upright piece B. Working on the axis X by means of the clock The spring` C can be Wound up by a key fitting spring` C, in combination With the hooks H and to the top of the pivot X, or by pressing back H', and the xed springs K K', substantially as the Wire Z so as to clamp the fixed spring K and and for the purpose herein set forth.

allow the turn-table to move round several times LEVI F. GEORGE. backward, when, on being released, it will be found adjusted and ready for use. Witnesses:

I claim as my invention- BENJAMIN W. BATGHELDER,

The turn-table A B in the trap or box R E R, WILLIAM M. HUGHES. (5l) 

